Yisroel R.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited Boro Park on Wednesday afternoon, making a stop at the famous Eichler’s Judaica store to get a firsthand look at preparations for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah and High Holiday season, while also meeting with local representatives and prominent community leaders.

During the visit, the mayor was shown around the world-renowned judaica store, getting a closer look at a range of holiday items, including a large variety of shofars and other essentials for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkos. The mayor was warmly welcomed by leading members of the Orthodox Jewish community, including Avi Greenstein of the Boro Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC) and Rabbi Yakov Landau of the Satmar Mosdos. Uri Fraenkel, Director of Special Projects in the Mayor’s Office was also present, as the mayor was given a firsthand look at how Boro Park’s Orthodox Jewish community prepares for the upcoming Tishrei holiday season, and a glimpse of the vibrant pre-Yom Tov buzz in the community.

But the visit went beyond just a ceremonial walkthrough. Community leaders used the opportunity to raise several quality-of-life concerns affecting Boro Park residents directly with the mayor, including an ongoing issue with garbage collection outside yeshivas and mosdos, where growing student populations have in some cases led to larger amounts of trash piling up outside buildings, contributing to an increase in rats and other hygiene concerns, with existing sanitation pickup schedules not always able to keep pace with the increased volume.

Askanim also raised several concerns affecting local yeshivas and mosdos involving the New York City Department of Finance where assistance from City Hall could help move matters forward. Workforce support and jobs were also discussed, along with broader concerns tied to the day-to-day needs of local families and institutions.

Mayor Mamdani listened closely throughout the discussion, asked questions, and engaged in conversation with those present. He then directed members of his staff to begin reaching out to the relevant city agencies, follow up on the concerns, and start working to get these issues resolved.

The successful visit served as a meaningful opportunity for the mayor to connect with Boro Park’s residents and community leaders and engage with the issues affecting the community, reflecting the Mamdani administration’s broader commitment to address local concerns and serve all communities across New York City.

Mayor Mamdani shared his excitement over visiting Eichler’s and spending time in Boro Park ahead of Rosh Hashanah. In an exclusive message to BoroPark24 during the visit, Mamdani said, “It is so lovely to be here, especially before the High Holidays, and to wish everyone a Shana Tova. I really appreciate the lovely welcome and the conversations. Thank you so much.”

The visit lasted roughly an hour, giving the mayor time to both tour the store and hold conversations with local representatives ahead of one of the busiest periods of the year for Boro Park’s Orthodox Jewish community.

photos: Duvid Jaroslawicz / Zevi Klein